Specifically, the following critical elements must be addressed: I. Introduction: Explain the contemporary social problem that you selected, and explain why you chose this specific social problem. II. Research: In order to further understand the social pr

SOC 213 Final Project Part I Guidelines and Rubric Overview The first part ( Part I) of the final project for this course is preparing for the letter of intent . The field of sociology presents a unique perspective to viewing the world’s social problems. Social problems tend to be viewe d solely as individual constructs and responsibilities, but sociologists take a deeper dive into the complex set of variables drivi ng the development of these problems using various theoretical perspectives. As these problems surface in individual lives, the workplace, and communities, a sociological perspective is va luable for providing a framework for deeper investigation of variabl es and limiting personal biases when analyzing problems. In this project , you will play the part of a sociologist who has been requested by your national community to craft a letter of intent to the potential funder, the Department of Health and Human Se rvices. The project will be divided into two parts . In the first part , you will prepare to write the letter of intent by conducting research on the social problem and thinking about how to limit your personal biases when later analyzing the social issue. I n the second part of the project , the letter of intent, you will analyze the problem from a sociological perspective, outl ining the influential variables and the local and global impacts of the problem, and finally suggest a potential solution. Th is project is divided in to two milestones , which will be submitted at various points throughout the course to scaffold learning and ensure quality final submissions. The Part I milestones will be submitted in Modules Two and Three . The final submission for Pa rt I is due in Module Five . In this assignment, you will demonstrate your mastery of the following course outcomes:  Analyze contemporary social problems on local and global scales by applying key theoretical perspectives  Analyze social variables and determinants for their influence in the development of contemporary social problems on a local a nd global scale  Suggest potential solutions that are aligned with best practices for addressing the negative impacts of social iss ues  Illustrate how the use of sociological theory limits personal and societal biases in analyzing social problems Part I Before you can write the letter of intent, you must first identify social variables influencing the problem and previously at tempted solutions. Also, before you can analyze the problem, you must first think about your biases and how you can limit these b iases using sociological theory when analyzing the social issue. Specifically , the following critical elements must be addressed: I. Introduction : Explain the contemporary social problem that you selected , and explain why you chose this specific social problem. II. Research : In order to further understand the social problem, you will conduct some research on its influences, impacts, and attempted s olutions. A. Identify social variables and determinants that have influenced the development of the social problem and explain their influence. Support your explanations with resources. B. Explain how the social variables and determinants influencing the development of the social problem vary depending on whether the social problem is local or global . In other words, are the previously id entified social variables and determinants influencing the social problem the same or different as the social variables and determinants influencing the so cial problem in another country? Provide specific examples. C. Describe attempted solutions to the ident ified social problem that failed , and explain why the attempted solutions might have been unsuccess ful, supporting with resources. D. Describe the attempted solutions that were successful in addressing the identified social problem, or a similar social proble m, and identify best practices based on these successful solutions. Be sure to support with resources. III. Approach : In this section, you will sift through your personal biases, with the aim of limiting such biases in your later analysis. A. Describe how people generally tend to talk about this social problem and how these approaches are problematic, supporting with resources. What stereotypes , biases, and assumptions are at play? B. Reflect on your own biases and assumptions around the issue and how these may affe ct your analysis of the issue. Everyone has certain preconceived notions about social issues. What are yours, and how might they influen ce your analysis? C. Explain how you will use sociological theory to limit your biases when you analyze the social problem. How can the theory help you limit your bias es? Provide a specific example. Milestones Milestone One : Identify a Social Problem : Introduction In Module Two , you will submit a one - to two -paragraph draft of the Introduction , in which you will choose a social problem and explain why you chose this specific social problem . Your introduction should address all critical elements as listed in Section I above , and the following questions: How does your social problem relate to your local com munity? How does this social problem impact the global community ? This milestone is graded with the Part I Milestone One Rubric . Milestone Two : Draft of Research Approach In Module Three , you will submit a one - to two -page draft of the Research and Approach sections , addressing all critical elements from Sections II and III above . You will use your research to help determine the social variables that have come together to create and sustain your social p roblem. You should use these variables to brainstorm some potential solutions. As a social researcher, you must also investigate your own biases. Think ab out why this social problem matters to you or how it impacts you. What stereotypes or assumptions do you have regarding this social problem? How did you learn about these stereotypes or biases? After investigating how your own biases may impact your research, you will select a sociological theory to help you analyze t he problem from a theoretical, structured, and unbiased point of view. Use this theoretical lens to help explain your problem. This milestone is graded with the Part I Milestone Two R ubric. Final Submission : Preparing for the Letter of Intent In Module Five , you will submit your preparation for the letter of intent . It should be a complete, polished artifact containing all of the critical elements of the final product. It should reflect the incorporation of feedback gained throughout the course. This submission will be graded using the Final Product Part I Rubric. Final Product Part I Rubric Guidelines for Submission: Your preparation f or the letter of intent must be 2 to 3 pages in length (plus a cover page and references) and must be written in APA format in Microsoft Word . Use double spacing, 12 -point Times New Roman font, and one -inch margins. Include at least three scholarly references in APA format. Instructor Feedback : This activity uses an integrated rubric in Blackboard. Students can view instructor feedback in the Grade Center. For more information, review these instructions . Critical Elements Exemplary ( 100% ) Proficient ( 85% ) Needs Improvement ( 55% ) Not Evident ( 0% ) Value Introduction Meets “Proficient” criteria , and explanation is especially detailed Explains the contemporary social problem selected and why the problem was chosen Explains the contemporary social problem selected and why the problem was chosen, but explanation has gaps in detail or accuracy Does not explain the contemporary social problem selected and why the problem was chosen 5 Research: Variables and Determinants Meets “Proficient” criteria , and identification demonstrates keen insight into the influence of social variables and determinants on creating social problems Identifies social variables and determinants that influenced the development of the problem and explains their influence, supp orting with resources Identifies social variables and determinants that influenced the development of the problem and explains their influence, but response has gaps in detail or accuracy, or lacks support Does not identify social variables and determinants that influenced the development of the problem 15 Research: Variables and Determinants Global Meets “Proficient” criteria , and explanation demonstrates keen insight into the local or global impact of social variables on determinants Explains how the social variables and determinants influencing the development of the social problem vary, depending on if the problem is local or global, providing specific examples Explains how the social variables and determinants influenci ng the development of the social problem vary depending on if the problem is local or global, but explanation has gaps in detail, accuracy, or lacks examples Does not explain how the social variables and determinants influencing the development of the soci al problem vary locally and globally 15 Research:

Attempted Solutions Meets “Proficient” criteria , and explanation demonstrates keen insight into failed attempts at solutions Describes attempted solutions to the problem that failed and explains why the solutions were unsuccessful, supporting with resources Describes attempted solutions to the problem that failed and why the solutions were unsuccessful, but description has gaps in detail or accuracy or lacks support Does not describe attempted solutions to the problem that failed 15 Research: Best Practices Meets “Proficient” criteria , and identified best practices demonstrate keen insight into creating successful solutions Describes attempted solutions to the social problem that were successful and identifies best practices, supporting with resources Describes attempted solutions to the social problem that were successful and identifies best practices, but response has gaps in detail or a ccuracy or lacks support Does not describe attempted solutions to the soci al problem that were successful 15 Approach:

Stereotypes Meets “Proficient” criteria and demonstrates keen insight into why stereotypes are problematic Describes how people generally talk about the social problem and how these approaches are problematic, supporting with resources Describes how people generally talk about the social problem and how these approaches are problematic, but response has gaps in detail or acc uracy or lacks support Does not describe how people generally talk about the social problem and how these approaches are problematic 10 Approach: Your Analysis Meets “Proficient” criteria , and reflection demonstrates keen insight into the impact of personal bias on analysis Reflects on personal biases and assumptions around the issue and how these may affect the analysis of the issue Reflects on personal biases and assumptions around the issue and how these may affect the analysis of the issue, but response is cursory or ill ogical Does not reflect on personal biases and assumptions around the issue 10 Approach: Limit Biases Meets “Proficient” criteria , and explanation demonstrates keen insight into the use of sociological theory to limit personal biases Explains how to use sociological theory to limit bias when analyzing the social problem, providing a specific example Explains how to use sociological theory to limit bias when analyzing the social problem, but does not provide an example, or explanation h as gaps in detail or accuracy Does not explain how to use sociological theory to limit bias when analyzing the social problem 10 Articulation of Response Submission is free of errors related to citations, grammar, spelling, syntax, and organization and is prese nted in a professional and easy -to-read format Submission has no major errors related to citations, grammar, spelling, syntax, or organization Submission has major errors related to citations, grammar, spelling, syntax, or organization that negativel y impact readability and articulation of main ideas Submission has critical errors related to citations, grammar, spelling, syntax, or organization that prevent understanding of ideas 5 Total 100 %